Process of shaping and tempering metal



TI 1: PROCESS OF SHAPING AND TEM PERING METAL. APPLICATION FILED AUGJG. 19!].

Patented Jul 20, 1920-.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

T. 1. FAY.

PROCESS OF SHAPING AND TEMPERING METAL.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJG, I917.

Patented July 20, 1920.

4SHEETSSHEET 2.

-J m/En/br T. J. FAY.

PROCESS OF SHAPING AND TEMPERING METAL.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJG, 1917.

1,346,946. Patented July 20,1920.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

T. J FAY.

PROCESS OF SHAPING AND TEMPERING METAL.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.16. 1912.

1,346,946. Paten d July 20, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4- n/enfaz tlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J'. FAY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE STANDARD PARTS COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

PROCESS OF SHAPING AND TEMPERING METAL.

Specification oi Letters Patent.

Patented July 20, 1920.

Original application filed August 11, 1915, Serial No. 44,875. Divided and this application filed August To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS J. FAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Processes of Shaping and Tempering Metal, of which the followmg is a full, clear, and exact description,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a process for tempering and cambering metal, and has for its general object to insure uniformity in, and greatly improve the quality of such metal; also to facilitate the handling ofthe same. Among the further and more limited objects of my invention is that of providing a process whereby plates-such as used in spring construction-may be raised (and be. required to be raised) in temperature to a point slightly above the upper critical point and may be quenched before dropping below recalescence-the process being such that the plate (or other article) to be tempered need be heated to a temperature of .only about 75 F. beyond such critical point, and the operator will nevertheless have time to insert the plate into the shaping form and to carry this form into the quenching fluid before the plate has parted with this slight excess of temperature, thus submitting the plate to the quenching flu d in'such time that-the quenching effect. will begin as closely to and above the critical point as practically possible to a skilled operator. An important step in the pract 1ce of my process is to so time theperiod through which the plates are subjected to the quenching fluid that the heat remaining in the core sections of the plates will be sufficient to temper the plates, thus permitting the core heat to bloom over the plates whereby the quenching fluid is dried or dispelled from the plates and the desired temper is produced in and throughout the latter; also, and very importantly, to perform this step without'warping, or twisting, or producing irregularities in the cooled plates. As. a means of accom lishing the objects above set forth, the cam ering forms will be so fashioned as not only to offer no material obstacle to the withdrawal of the heat from. the plates clamped therebetween during the quenching operation but, onthe other hand,

Serial No. 186,462.

to withdraw practically no heat from such plates due to their contact therewith.

A further object of the invention is to automatically control the time occupied for the quenching and other steps of my process in accordance with the grade and gage of steel being treated. Still further objects of the invention will appear hereinafter; and, more generally stated, the invention may be defined as consisting of the combinations of steps embodied in the claims hereto annexed. In the drawings forming part hereof, there is illustrated the preferred apparatus by which my process may be realized, said apparatus forming the subject matter of my application No. 44,875, filed August 11, 1915, of which this application is a division. In the said drawings Figure 1 represents a front sectional elevation of a bendmg or cambering apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention and showing the table in its elevated position and the forms separated; Fig. 2 is a detail, partly in section and partly in elevation, showing the table partly lowered and the forms having a plate clamped therebetween and passing through the spraying zone; Fig. 3 is a central sectional detail corresponding substantially to the line 3--3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 a similar view corresponding to the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 and showing the cambering forms in closed position; Figs. 5 and 6 are details in elevation, and-Fig. 7 a detail in plan, of one ture or camber; Fig. 8 a detail in elevation of a modified construction of cambering form; Fig. 9 a sectional View taken through a spring and illustrating the manner in which the plates are shaped by the rolling operation for'the tempering and cambering operation; Fig. 10 a sectional side elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 11 a diagram of the electrical circuits involved.

Describing by reference characters the various parts illustrated herein, 1 denotes a tank and 2 a standard the base whereof is preferably located within and upon the bottom of the tank. .At its front, the standard is fashioned into a T-beam,.indicated at 3, whereby a guide is formed for the base member or table 4 on which the lower set of cambering templets or forms is supported, and this table is shown as provided with flanges 5 (see Fig. 3) which are adapted to embrace the lateral edges of the T- beam 3, whereby the base member or table may be guided in its vertical movement. The table forms a support for a suitable number-two being shownof laterally spaced frames or templets each comprising a pair of vertically extending and laterally spaced plates 6, having each its upper edge concaved, as indicated at- 7. Between each pair of plates 6 and at the central portion thereof, there is inserted a pin 8, which pin is adapted to receive the center hole of the spring plate which is to be cambered and tempered. At the rear of each pair of plates 6 there is located a grid 9, which assists in positioning the spring plates upon the upper edges of the plates 6 and which may be formed as part of a base 10-which supports the form plates.

Cooperating with the forms just described 1 are the upper forms, which are supported by a cross head 11 which is mounted upon the T-beam 3 by means of the lateral flanges 12. This cross head 11 is supported froma head 13 thereabove by means of bolts 14 connected to the cross head and extending through the head 13 and provided with nuts 15, there being coiled springs 16 surrounding said bolts and interposed between the heads 11 and 13, whereby (under circumstances to be set forth hereinafter) a yielding and to the head 13. The spring 17, interposed between the heads 11 and 13, assists -inthis yielding transmission of pressure,

meshing with a worm 21 which may be driven by any source of power, as by means of a motor, indicated generally at 22, the

shaft on said motor having a pulley 23 which drives the worm 21,-as by means of a belt 24, the circuit including this motor being controlled by a main swltch 22. In order to counter-balance the weight of the table 4 and the lower cambering forms, said table is suspended by means of chains 25 connected thereto and extending over pulleys 26, 27 at the top of the machine and connected with a counterweight 28. The connections thus far described for moving the table and thecambering parts up and down are substantially identical with the parts shown, described and claimed in my application No. 857,522, filed August 19, 191a pressure will be applied to the head '11 The counterweight 28 is composed of a number of separate weights whereby the pressure to which the plates are subjected between the cambering forms (to be described hereinafter) may be adjusted to the requirements of the particular grade and thickness or gage 'of steel that may be treated at any particular time. Beneath the counterweight there is a spring 28 which forms a yielding support for the counterweight when the cambering forms have been opened to their full extent, as indicated in Fig. 10.

The head 11 is provided with a pair of upper cambering forms cooperating with the lower ones, each upper form comprising a pair of plates 29 each plate being preferably in the same vertical plane as the corresponding plate 6 therebeneath and the lower edges of the plate'29 being convex, the curvature being preferably the same as the curvature of the upper edges of the plates 6. The plates 29 of each form may be conveniently carried by a grid, the base 30 whereof may be fastened to the head 11, the fingers 31 of the grid being arranged in front of the plates '29. Bolts 32 are shown as connecting the plates 29 to their respective grids, said bolts being provided with spacing sleeves 33. The plates 6 are supported in like manner from the grids 9, the bblts connecting the plates to the grids being indicated at 9 and the spacing sleeve thereon at 9 (see Fig. 4);

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7 I have shown means cambering operation and may be given an increased curvature. whereby they will grip the adjacent plates. The plates 6 support near their outer ends a shaft 34 having rigid therewith an eccentric 35. 36 denotes a spring plate, the beveled and tapered end whereby the beveled or tapered ends of the spring plates may be supported during the 36 whereof'is shown as resting upon the roller 35. By adjusting the shaft 34, the ends 36 of the plate 36 will be supported during the forming operation and an additional curvature may be imparted thereto.

As in the case of 'my application No. 857,522 hereinbefore referred to, it is proposed to clamp the heated plate 'to be quenched between the upper and lower parts of the form and to immerse the plate thus clamped in the liquid within the tank. The liquid in the tank may, and preferably will, consist of a lower body A of water with a body of oil B thereupon. At the bottom of I the tank is a conduit 37 which communicates traversed by one of the cambering forms.

Before the plates are inserted into the forms and the motor operated to cause the forms to be immersed, the parts will be supported with the tops of the formplates 6 slightly above the streams of liquid discharged through the branches 40 and 41. The plates to becambered, having been heated. to a temperature of say 7 5 abovethe upper critical. point, are applied to the lower form memr 1 'bers with the pins 8 extending through their centers and the edges of the spring plates resting upon'the tops of the plates 7, the ends being supported by the eccentric 35. The motor 22 is then operated, causing the heads 11 and 13 to descend, the upper cambering plates 29 engaging the spring plates andjbending them downwardly intermediate of the ends thereof, the blow of the upper cambering form upon the lower form being cushioned by the springs 16 and 17 The cambering forms then descend in unison, and the spring plates clamped therebetween have their upper and lower surfaces swept longitudinally by the streams of liquid discharged at high speed through the branches 40 and 41. The liquid discharged on the top and bottom of the platesserves to quench the outer surfaces of the plates,'the meeting of the opposed streams facilitating the lateral distribution of the liquid over the plates. Furthermore, subjecting the heated plates to these ra idly moving streams results in wiping ofi anyl bubbles that may be formed thereupon due to spheroidal action-and this prevents local differences in the temper and fiber of the plates.

. The forms descend into the liquid withinthe tank, traveling to a depth determined by the speed of the machine, the location of the motor-reversing switch, the initial temperature of the plates, and the desired depth of the chilled and hardened exterior for the plate, with the view of initiating the quenching effect as closely above the upper critical point as skill will permit, while withdraw:

ing the plate from the action of the quenching liquid in time to retain in the core of theplate a temperature suflicient to temper the plate in the manner referred to hereinbefore,without dangerof warping. This quenching of the 'metal-using one of the standard steels as an example-should be done so quickly as to lower thetemperature in the surface section of the plate to about 400 F. while the temperature of the core section willbe such that, when the plate is withdrawn from the bath, the residual heat in such section should be sufiicient to produce a temperature of about 850 F. in the wholeplate, the exterior chilled part of the plate .of the surfaces of the plates during thequenching operation and the material ab-.

sorption ofheat therefrom during. the tempering operation. One of the standard steels in spring construction basic open hearth analyzing 100 points carbon has an upper critical point at approximately 1460 F. In operating upon a plate made from this steel, it will be heated to about 1535 F., clamped, and quickly carried through the quenching operation so' that, after withdrawal from the bath, the plate will-be at a temperature of about 850 F. throughout. It will be understood that, if the particular steel employed requires some departure from the ranges mentioned, the apparatus disclosed herein may be very conveniently adjusted to accommodate these changes.

In Fig. 9 I have shown a sectional view taken through three standard spring plates, as customarily furnished by the steel mills,

and illustrating the concavity of the upper and lower surfaces thereof whereby the lateral portions 36 are thicker than the central portions of the plates. Clamping the lateral edge portions of the plates between the forms-see particularly the pressure upon the thickest portions of the plates.

Reference has been made hereinbefore to the automatic control ofthe quenching period whereby the plates on the one hand will not be chilled to such an extent as to prevent them fromhaving a final temperature which will secure the proper qualitiesa temperature of 850 F. has beenreferred to as one which will secure these desirable qualities in the case of spring plates-and on the other hand will not interfere with the pro duction of an external chilled area of sufficient extent tb successfully resist warping due to the heating of the plate from the central heated area or core. There are shown in Figs. 10 and 11 connections whereby the above results may be accomplished. In these views, 42, 42* denote a pair of rods or bars which are adjustably connected to the head 13 as by set screws 42*, 42 securing ig. 4-brings I i said rods or bars in a boss 42 carried by said head. 43 and 44 denote upper and lower switches, frame of the machine and having their operating handlesin the path of the aforesaid rods or bars 42, 42 The handles of these switches are shown as yieldingly connected by chains 45 having interposed therebetween a spring 46, the spring tending to maintain the switches closed. Above the switch 43 is located a switch 47 that is also supported from the frame of the machine and in such manner as to be adjustable toward and from the switch 43. It will be-observed that the .blade 47 of this switch opens in a reverse direction from that of the blade of switch 43 and that the operating handle of this switch is arranged to be engaged by the end of the upper rod 42. Arranged in identically the same manner as above described, there is a switch 48 similarly adjustably supported below the. switch 44 and having the handle of its blade 48' in position to be engaged by the end of the lower rod 42. The blades of the switches 47 and 48 are extended beyond their pivotal points, and these extensions project in a direction opposite. to theiroperating handles; these extensions (47 and 48 are positively connected by the link 49, said link including a turn buckle for the obvious 'purpose of ad'- justment. The switches 47 and 48 may be adjustably supported in .any convenient manner upon the standard 3. From this it will be seen that when one of the switches 47 or 48 is closed, the other will be opened by reason of the aforesaid connection. magnetic brake 50 is shown 'as applied to the rear end of the armature shaft of the motor 28*, the coil of the brake magnet being shown at 51.

It will be observed from the diagram of Fig. 11 that one side 52 of an electric circuit leads, by way of branch 53, through one side of the switch 47 wire 54, one side of the switch 44, and wire 55, to the armature winding of the motor, shown conventionally at 56. The current passing in a given direction through the winding of the armature, continues through the wire 57, the coil 51 of the brake magnet 50 (see Figs. 10 and 11), wire 58, of switch 44, wire 60, and through the corresponding side of switch 47 to the other side 61 of the circuit. ,It will be observed that the main switch 22 isincluded in that side of the circuit represented by the wire 61. The field winding 62 of the motor is in constant connection, with the positive and negative sides of the circuit respectively "through the conductors 63 and 64. The foregoing circuit prevails while the head of the machlne is traveling downward. After traveling a predetermineddistance in this respectively, supported from the ture winding, the current wire 59,the opposite side direction the lower end of the rod 42 engages the handle of the switch 44, to open the switch and brake circuits. This results in the denergization of the motor and brake and the immediate application of the brake, through the action of its spring 50. The tension of this spring may be adjusted so as to permit the armature shaft to yield tothe inertia of the aforesaid head, thereby allowing said head to descend until the rod 42 engages the handle of the switch 48 and closes such switch. Through the connection of the blade of this switch by means of the link 49 with the blade of the upper switch 47, the latter switch will be opened and the circuit is now established through the wire 52, one'side of the switch 48, wire 65, 58, the coil 51 of the brake magnet and wire 57 to the armature of the motor, the current, in this case, entering the armature winding in a reverse direction from that deone side of the "switch 43, wires 66,

scribed in connection with the former cir- 4 side of the armacontinues through wire 67, the opposite side of the switch 43, wire 68 and the corresponding side of the switch 48 to the aforesaid wire 61 that constitutes the negative side of the circuit. Remembering that the direction of the flow of current through the field winding of the motor remains constant, it will be seen from the foregoing that the last described circuit results in a reversal of the motor, so that the head of the machine is now caused to ascend to loading position.

\Vith this arrangement, it will be evident that with the switch 22 closed, when the plates, are inserted between the forms, the forms will be driven downwardly, current being supplied to the motor until the lower rod or bar 42 strikes the handle of the switch 44. This opens the motor circuit, but the motor continues to run by inertia until the rod or bar 42 closes the switch 48, 48*. 'Thereupon 'the motor is reversed and, as the head 13 moves upwardly, the switch 44 may be closed by the spring 46 and the motor will continue to run in this direction, lifting the forms out of the tank, until the rod or bar 42 opens the switch 43. The motor thereupon continues to run by inertia cuit, leaving the opposite until the rod or bar 42 closes the upper switch 47 47. As already explained, the brake 50 may be set so as to vary the speed of the motor and the speed and consequent adjustability of the lower reversing switchdesire additional time for the loading or unloading operation,'he may suspend the automatic operation-as long as he desires by merely opening the main switch 22.

In addition to these advantages, thereare certain advantages which are due to the manner of clamping the plates during the cambering and quenching operation. -It will be noted that the plates are clamped between rigid templets which have the curvature desired to be given to the interposed plates. One of these templets is driven by a continuously operable motor and, but for the springs 16, would strike a blow which might cause the plate to be indented and produce a destructive shock thereupon and therewithin. Furthermore, but for the spring bumper or bufier thus interposed be-' tween the motor and the upper ,templet, the

' motor, unless otherwise unnecessarily large and powerful, would have to be shut down before impact, in order to avoid burning out. The employment of the spring bumper permits the use of this continuously operv able motor and without the necessity for shutting down, the same.

- i The removable counterweights 28 afford a means whereby the plate may be clamped under such pressure as may be necessary to ofi'set all local stresses due to the bending or cambering of the plate and to retain'it in its rambered form. Because of this bending or cambering, the plate must be held clamped while crossing recalescence, and the counterweights enable that pressure to be exerted againstthe plate Wl'llCh is indicated by the character and gage'of steel beingtreated at any particular time; At the same time, the pressure to which the late is subjected can be so chosen and reg'u ated that it will be sufficient to permit of the wave-like or snake-like contortions and movements whichroccur within the plate during the uenching operation, the weights yielding su ciently to allow these movements to take place. Were the plate clamped rigidly, irregularities or humps would be produced therein and the plate, when quenched, would be non-homogeneous,

Attention has been invited herelnbefore to the fact that oil and water are contained within the tank. This employment of such the layer of water can be varied by different quenching liquids and the ability to vary the depths of the different layers thereof are important features ofmy invention. Considering oil and water as the two liquids most ordinarily employed, subjecting theheated steel to the oil first has the tendency of increasing the tensile strength and the elastic limit of'the steel. The steel, thus prepared by the oil, is in condition to withstand 'the more severe quenchin action of the water. But, by preparing t e steel for the water-quenching by first subjecting it to the oil-quenching, the steel may be quenched so as to secure most ideal conditions therein. Further more, by p the depth or thickness of the oil layer, the time of the oil-quenching operation may be varied, as may be desired, in accordance with the particular being treated.

By the apparatus disclosed herein, the period of time that the steel is subjected to va y the length of the pause of the cambering templets at the bottom of their stroke. The depth of oil may be very easily varied, as by means of a two-way valve'70 in the pipe providing some means for varyinggrade and gage of steel- 39, by operating which the pipes 40 and 41 Y may be cut out and water be pumped to waste through the pipe 71. The oil can be poured or otherwise suitably introduced into thetop of the tank. In like manner, when it is desired to raise the level of the water in the tank, more water may be introduced into the top of the tank.

Passing the plates through thelayer of oil into thewater therebeneath results in a heat-interchange, mingling the oil and the water to a considerable extent and tending, through such heat-interchange, to maintain these bodies of quenching llquids at temperatures which are the most efficient.

In order to demonstrate the cooperation which exists between the different steps of my process and a particular grade, width, and ga e of steel, I submit the following table-w ich was prepared from the actualtreatment of an immense number of spring In general, the advantages secured in and through the practice of my process are:

(a) Performing the quenching operation 1 sibility of the plates to be cambered to the quenching fluid.

(b) Quenching without deformation, secured by the line contacts between the form members and the plates while the plates are prevented from moving laterally by the side guides or grids but are not prevented from elongating and shortening; in other words, the forms do not oppose the irresistible change of shape in the plate during recalescence but limit this change to a change of curvature and length,.the plates returning when cold to their original cut lengths.

(c) Quenching without twisting, warping, or undesirable deformation.

(d) Producing tempered plates of uniform (uality. I

(e) roducing tempered plates of uniform and better quality.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is:

1. The process of treating a metal plate which comprisesheating the same to a temperature above the upper critical point, clamping the plate between suitably shaped dies or forms to give it the desired shape, and passing the plate, thus clamped, through a stream of quenching liquid directed longitudinally thereof.

2. The process of treating a metal plate which comprises heating the same to a temperature above the upper critical point, clamping the plate near the lateral edges thereof along lines of contact substantially parallel with the length of the plate-thus" leaving the plate free to elongate and contract in length .and passing the clamped 'plate through streams of quenching liquid delivered longitudinally of the plate from opposite ends thereof.

The process of treating a metal plate which comprises heating the same to a temperature above the upper critical point,

4. The process of treating a metal plate Which comprises heating the same to a temperature above the upper critical point,

clamping the plate near lateral edges thereof, and passingthe clamped plate through oppositely directed streams of quenching liquid.

5. The process of treating a .metal plate which comprises heating the same to a temperature above the upper critical point, clamping the plate between suitable forms, and subjecting the plate thus clamped to the action of oppositely directed streams of quenching liquid. J

6. The process of treating a metal plate which comprises heating the same to a temperature above the upper critical point, clamping the plate between suitably shaped forms, and passing the clamped plate through a stream of quenching liquid and into another quenching liquid.

- 7. The process of treating a metal plate which comprises heating the same to a temperature above the .upper critical point, clamping the plate between suitably shaped forms, and passing the clamped plate through a stream of quenching liquid and into baths of additional quenching liquids.

8. The process of treating a metal plate which comprises heating the same to a temperature above the upper critcial point,

clamping the plate between suitably shaped forms, and subjecting the clamped plate to the successive action of water, oil, and

THOMAS J. FAY.

Witnesses:

R. B. CLAPPERTON, ANITA D. CLArPER'roN. 

